Automatic catch for elevator-hatches.



No. 686,3l6. Patented Nov. 12, I90].

F. T. MARTIN. AUTOMATIC CATCH FOR ELEVATOR HATCHES.

(Application filed Mar. 5, 1901.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

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N0. 686,3]6. Patented Nov. I2, |90I F. T. MARTIN.

AUTOMATIC CATCH FDR ELEVATOR HATGHES.

(Applicatiodflled Mar, 5, 1901.

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NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK T. MARTIN, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

AUTOMATIC CATCH FOR ELEVATOR-HATCHES.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 686,316, dated. November 12, 1901. Application filed March 5, 1901. Serial No. 49,793. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK T. MARTIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at'Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Catches for Elevator-Hatches; and I do declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains'to make and use the same.

My invention relates to automatic catches for elevator-hatches; and the invention relates to that class of elevators in which what are com monlyknown as doors or hatches are carried by the elevator platform or car and deposited automatically at each floor from bottom to top of the elevator-shaft and automatically picked up again and stored on the descent as each floor or landing is reached, all in the manner and by the mechanism shown and hereinafter fully described, and especially pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan elevation of an elevator-carriage and sections of landings between which for the time the carriage appears, having just deposited a hatch at the landing beneath. Fig. 2 is a plan view on line A A, Fig. 1, showing also a cross-section of the shaft and of the four several T-rails at the sides of the shaft with which the hatch is engaged, as will be their work at the time.

seen. Figs. ,3 to 6, inclusive, are enlarged views of the active mechanism for. lodging and dislodging a hatch, showing the parts in several positions and relations, according to Thus Fig. 3 is a plan of the mechanism at one of the four similar corner-catches shown as engaged with one of the four several T-rails seen in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective elevation of a set of catches on two platforms at the same cornerand'showing how the lower one is engaged and carried by the next upper one. Fig. 5 represents partiallya landing, showing the same relation thereof substantially as Fig. 1 and a corner of the car carrying two hatchways, as in Fig. l, and leaving one at the landing. Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of parts on line D D, Fig. 5.

In the foregoing views I show a mechanism Fig. 5.

which responds to .what may be termed the straight line-work of the elevator, wherein the engaging mechanism is caused to move in the same direction as the line of travel of the elevator and in which each hatch is deposited and picked up again in turn by the direct up or down movement of the engaging mechanism corresponding to the direction of travel of the elevator. This brings the mechanism within'perfectly natural lines and simplifies both construction and operation.

In the drawings, A represents the elevator car or platform; B, the usual runways at the sides of the shaft for the car; C and D, the two landings, and l 2 3 the three several hatches or doors borne by the car when not deposited.

E represents four several preferably T- shaped columns or rails running from bottom to'top of the shaft at or near the corners and sides outside the pathway of the car or platform far enough to interpose the hatch-carrying mechanism. This is seen most clearly in Fig. 3, where hatch 3 presumably is shown as engaged with one of the T-rails, as in Figs. 5 and 6, the engagement being in or through a slot or opening 4 in the web of said T-rail, Now, referring more specifically to said engaging or catch mechanism, there is first of all a bracket F, preferably in one piece, in and on which all the movable parts are supported, as well as the hatch itself. The said bracket and its operating parts are the same at' the four corners of the hatch, so thata description of one answers for all. The said bracket is made on the back of a shape to conform to and be fastened securely to the hatches and has a downward projection with a hook 13 and an outside cover J. In the said bracket are two principal operating parts at right angles to each other and for purposes of description are referred to as catch G and lock or catch-lock H. Catch G is so called because it is the member which directly engages the hatch with rail E, and the lock H is so called because it looks said catch in engagement and prevents its possible disengagement until operated on by the member or part 'made for this purpose.

Catch G has three features or portions 6, 7, and 8,as hereinafter designated and described,

' plainly in Fig. 6.

and lock H has features or arms 9 and 10. Said lock has a preferably cylindrical body rotatably supported in bearings in or upon bracket F and the two arms 9 and 10 to rotate in parallel planes, but stand at an angle to each other, as shown best in Fig. 6. Catch G likewise is pivotally or rotatably supported on suitable hearings in bracket F and is made strong enough in all its parts to sustain all weight that comes upon it. Its engaging position is seen on Sheet 2 of the drawings, and particularly Fig. 5, where hook 6 is caught on or in slot 4 in rail E, and being thus engaged it is locked by arm 9, lying behind post or projection 7011 said catch and which holds the catch securely in place. This is also seen Both said parts G and II have been brought to this position by the same part initially--viz., the pendent hooks of the bracket next above. Normally and when all the hatches are gathered up by the car the several parts sustain the relations seen in the upper portions of Figs. 5 and 6, as well as in Fig. 4. This position is assumed when the car descends, and in descending the next or first pendent hook above, 13 in this case, passes down into bracket F at the angle bet ween parts G and H and in descending first strikes locking-arm 9 and turns it down out of the Way, so that the catch can open, and then the weight of hatch-floor and downward movement of elevator-car cause catch G to rotate and release said hook 6 from engagement with rail E. This occurring at all four corners at the same time gives hatch 3 absolutely over to the four several pendent hooks reaching down from above, and said hatch becomes supported on said h0oks by projection 7 being rotated a quarter-way around, as plainly seen in dotted lines, Fig. 5, above, and engaged on shoulder 9 of said hook, while hook-arm 6 on catch G has been disengaged and said part G is prevented from rotating toward engagement again until it reaches the right place on the return trip by arm 6 of catch G bearing against the web of the rail, as also seen above in Fig. 6. At the same time arm 8 of catch G on the hatch next above has entered the recess formed by shoulder 15 in cover J, locking the catch and preventing same-from rotating so long as there is a hatch engaged below, as clearly seen at 19 in Fig. 4. Meantime and in the descent of the car as pendent hook 13 has rotated lock H by turning down arm 9 it has also turned arm 10 down, as seen at the top in Fig. 6, and into position to be engaged by lug or spur 16 on the heel of said hook 13 as the said hook ascends and by which said part II is turned back to locking position, as in Fig. 5. In the ascent all the hatches are carried along till the lower one reaches the first landing, and then the lower one will be left, because the instant the hookarm 6, which is sliding along on the web of the column, reaches the slot therein the weight of the hatch and the upward pull of hook 13 on catch G will instantly turn it into engagement and hook 13 will pass on upward and in doing so will turn lock H to locking position and at the same time release catch G on hatch 2 at shoulder 15. Then hatch 2 will be left at the next landing, and so on till all have been placed. On the return trip they are all quietly picked up again, and so on continually. An opposite bearing roller or sheave 18 is used with each bracket.

By my construction the rotatable parts G and H are arranged to turn in planes parallel to the direction the hatch is being carried and can move quickly or slowly with equal ease and certainty. Their movement also is positive and by immediate mechanical actuation. Furthermore, every hatch is locked securely at every stage of the operation and always on either the elevator-car to be carried or on the T-rails E to be left as a covering for the shaft at the successive landings. The elevator-car directly or indirectly does all the work initially, in that it carries the hooks which give positive movement to all the operative parts on the hatch to be picked up or left.

The brackets F and the catch G and lock II therein are separate articles of manufacture and sale.

The terms elevator or elevator car or platform are used to refer to the same part, and the said part has the downward projections or hooks 13, fixed to its bottom to operate with the next hatch below. Then each bracket also has its hook in like manner and use.

The several rails E are firmly secured at each landing, thus bracing and strengthen ing them and keeping them in place throughout the shaft.

What I claim is- 1. An elevator-hatch and brackets on said hatch provided each with a rotatable catch to support the elevator-hatch and arotatable lock for said catch, substantially as described.

2. In elevator-hatches, a hatch and a set of catches thereon and locks for the catches at right angles thereto and both catches and locks rotatable in planes corresponding to the direction of travel of the hatch, substantially as described.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a bracket constructed to be secured to an elevator-hatch, and a rotatable catch and a rotatable lock for the catch pivoted in said bracket and each constructed to be engaged by an actuating part, substantially as described.

4. In elevator-hatch-controlling mechanism, a hatch and a set of rotatable catches and rotatable locks for the catches on the hatch, in combination with the elevator-car and a part thereon constructed to actuate said parts, substantially as described.

5. In elevator-hatches, a hatch and brackets thereon, catches on the brackets and locks therefor, said catches each having a projection to be engaged by one of said locks, substantially as described.

6. An elevator-hatch and a set of rotatable catches thereon and each having a projection behind its pivot opposite its catching portion, in combination with an elevator-car and a hook at the bottom thereof to engage the said projection on the catch and release the hatch, and a rail with which the catch is adapted to engage, substantially as described.

7. In elevators, a set of rails running lengthwise of the shaft and having openings at the successive landings, in combination with an elevator-carriage provided with downward projections at its bottom provided with hooks, a hatch having rotatable catches engaged with said openings and constructed to be released by contact from one of said downward hooks when the elevator descends, substantially as described. 7

8. In elevators, a set of four several rails having slots at the several landings, in combination with hatches having each a set of catches engaged within said notches and a lock for each catch, said catches and locks being rotatable, substantially as described.

9. In elevators, a set of substantially T- shaped rails in the shaft with the ,Web extending inward, in combination with a hatch and brackets thereon, a roller on each of said brackets bearing against the back of a rail and a catch to engage with said rail, and a rotatable lock for said catch, substantially as described.

10. A bracketfor elevator-hatches and a catch and a lock therefor pivoted to rotate at right angles to each other, and a roller on said bracket opposite the engaging point of said catch and apart therefrom, substantially as described.

Witness my hand to the foregoing specification this 13th day of February, 1901.

FRANK T. MARTIN.

Witnesses:

R. B. MOSER, H. ,E. MUDRA. 

